TEHRAN, Apr. 18 (Press Shia) – President Rouhani stressed Wed. that the strategy of Iran’s Army will always remain deterrence of aggression and coercion as the country continues to boost military capabilities of its Army and IRGC.

President Rouhani made the remarks in his address during a ceremony at the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in capital Tehran, marking Iran’s Army Day on April 18.

“Now more than any other time in history, our country and Armed Forces are influential on the course of regional and global developments,” President Rouhani said. “At the same time as our military forces, much like our diplomatic ones, have never sought tension and conflict in the region and the world, Quran has also taught us that peace and stability are not feasible in the absence of power.”

Rouhani noted that the only way to respond positively to other countries’ call for peace is the possession of legitimate power, adding “only those countries which rely on their domestic capabilities can ever feel the true sense of sovereignty and power.”

He went on to add, “loaned power can never bring dignity and glory for a country. The countries in our region should not be after loaned power from major powers or an illegitimate regime in the Middle East.”

Stressing that aggressive powers have built themselves shelters in surrounding areas in the region, Rouhani added that the “Army and the IRGC will develop or procure any weapon they need for defense, and we will pay no mind to the opinion of other countries for boosting our defense capabilities.”